The Diamondback Sync is the latest addition to their range of alloy hardtails. With prices starting at £375 the bikes are targeted squarely at new riders.
Hardtail
Marin Pine Mountain 1 (2017) review
The Marin Pine Mopuntain rides more like an adventure bike than a trail hardtail designed to get your pulse racing.
GT Zaskar 27.5 Comp (2016) review
GT has gone a long way to recapturing the magic of the old Zaskar
Trek X-Caliber 8 (2016) review
The Trek looks amazing and has a decent spec, it’s just a shame the frame isn’t more trail-focused
Norco Storm 7.1 (2016) review
Quality frame with good length and standover clearance
Marin Bobcat Trail 9.3 (2016) review
Stable 29er wheels and great contact points
Orbea Loki 27+ H10
Let down by tyre choice in UK conditions - £1,519
Saracen Mantra Elite (2016) Review
A lightweight frame let down by its sizing and shape - £1,199
Charge Cooker 2 (2016) Review
A mild mannered hardtail that fails to excel - £999.99
Specialized Rockhopper Pro EVO 650b review
An EVO spec but lacks the EVO attitude - £1,2000
Ghost Kato 7 (2015) review
The Ghost Kato 7 offers fun in small does in the £1,000 category of our Hardtail of the Year test
Cannondale Trail 29 5 Review
A great frame let down by mediocre components
Kona Explosif 27.5 review
The 650b Kona Explosif 27.5 is a do-it-all hardtail with a steel frame, 120mm fork and 20 gears
Pinnacle Ramin 3 review £1,000
MBR reviews the Pinnacle Ramin 3 in the £1,000 category of our Hardtail of the Year test
Marin Palisades Trail 29er review £999
Read our review of the Marin Palisades Trail 29er as part of MBR's Hardtail of the Year test
Specialized Rockhopper review
Good components made the Rockhopper a real contender in MBR's Hardtail of the Year — but how did it fare?
Commencal El Camino 3 29 review £599
Great handling and riding position only let down by a few budget options in the drivetrain
Scott Aspect 930 review
At the heart of the Scott Aspect 930 is a lightweight aluminium frame making this one of the lightest bikes in the Sub-£750 Hardtail of the Year test.
GT Aggressor Sport review
With an excellent four sizes in the range the GT Aggressor Sport should suit pretty much every rider’s size, lanky old me included.
Specialized Pitch Sport review
Specialized Pitch Sport underwent a round of revisions – updates to the geometry and layout that dramatically improved handling and standover clearance.